Maputo, Mozambique, 13 Aug – Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM) has launched a tender to undertake further modernization and enlargement of the Quelimane airport in Zambezia province, Noticias newspaper has reported. AdM communication director Sandra Ganancio said the Quelimane airport has registered considerable increase in traffic and its infrastructures are consequently in need of modernization to face new demands, including better safety and comfort for passengers. In parallel, with a contract singed in February with the Phil/SEMCO consortium, AdM will invest US$ 8 million in resurfacing the main runway at the airport, as well as build two taxi ways and aircraft parking bays. This work is scheduled to last 17 months. This stage of the modernization will also give the airport a fence, improve communications, build new power generation sources and provide new airport vehicles and fire trucks. A new departure lounge will also be built from the existing arrivals and departure lounges. The contractor selected for the airport upgrade will finish the work in time for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Mozambique estimates that 150,000 tourists will visit the country during the World Cup. As part of preparations for the tournament, Mozambique is modernizing ten airports, renovating the Mozambique airline fleet of its national carrier and also improving rail links to South Africa and Swaziland.